It was no secret that the intense Avery Johnson often butted heads with outspoken owner Mark Cuban. NBA sources say Johnson would have been OK with Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki being dealt to the Lakers for Kobe Bryant or the Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett, but Cuban wasn't. Cuban's hands-on approach and vocal nature toward the referees also were challenging for Johnson to deal with. According to NBA sources, Johnson would have preferred that the team be kept intact with young point guard Devin Harris last season rather than trading for veteran Jason Kidd. But the trade was made, and the Mavericks went a disappointing 16-13 with Kidd and were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.

cuban is just too much of a fan. it's like if we owned the Lakers, bynum would have been traded for kidd or maybe lamar and bynum for Jermaine Oneal . but when you are a relatively young billionaire thats how things go

Again - this team, as currently constructed won't make it out of the second round of the playoffs, let alone the West or win the Finals.---fido on 2011 Lakers

Alright guys if Dallas did trade Dirk for Kobe do you think Mavs will win at least title with a Kidd + Kobe combo assuming they make that Kidd trade still? And how will our Lakers look with Dirk, LO, & Bynum on our frontcourt

cuban is just too much of a fan. it's like if we owned the Lakers, bynum would have been traded for kidd or maybe lamar and bynum for Jermaine Oneal . but when you are a relatively young billionaire thats how things go

Alright guys if Dallas did trade Dirk for Kobe do you think Mavs will win at least title with a Kidd + Kobe combo assuming they make that Kidd trade still? And how will our Lakers look with Dirk, LO, & Bynum on our frontcourt

Alright guys if Dallas did trade Dirk for Kobe do you think Mavs will win at least title with a Kidd + Kobe combo assuming they make that Kidd trade still? And how will our Lakers look with Dirk, LO, & Bynum on our frontcourt

well assuming that we traded LO too cuz im pretty sure we would have still gotten PAU for cheap, hey a front court of AB, Pau, and Dirk is crazy ....and whomever we got for LO (a really good SG or PG or both) would make the team pretty good but i dont know if it would be as good as it is now